Building automation remote control device with in-application messaging

• US 10,712,718 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Quam, David, Weirich, Kevin, Paine, Brad, Bruce, Michael, Ix
• Primary Examiner(s): Saavedra, Emilio J
• Application Number:
  US14/565,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20150159901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,044 Days
• Field of Search: 700276
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/12 : Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure

Abstract

An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device that includes a touch screen display configured to display information and to permit a user to enter information, a network connection configured to communicate with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller, and a controller in operative communication with the touch screen display and the network connection. The controller may be configured to receive one or more messages related to the operation of the HVAC system via the network connection, and to display the one or more messages on the touch screen display.

Claims

1. A mobile device for programming an HVAC controller of an HVAC system, wherein the HVAC controller is distinct from the mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

a touch screen display configured to display information and to receive user-entered information;

a network connection configured to communicate with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller;

a controller in operative communication with the touch screen display and the network connection, the controller configured to execute an operating system of the mobile device and execute an application program comprising application program code for execution by the operating system, the application program for the operating system is configured to cause the network connection to receive two or more HVAC messages that are related to alerts of the HVAC system from the remote server via the network connection, and to cause the touch screen display to display the two or more HVAC messages, wherein the controller is configured to periodically poll the HVAC controller to determine if a geofencing feature or auto changeover feature has not been used;

wherein the application program for the operating system is configured to change, in response to the user-entered information, one or more control parameters of the HVAC controller via the remote server and to implement an HVAC message center for displaying the two or more HVAC messages related to alerts of the HVAC system, wherein, to implement the HVAC message center, the application program for the operating system is configured to cause the touch screen display to display the two or more HVAC messages related to alerts of the HVAC system in the HVAC message center in a list format; and

wherein, to cause the touch screen display to display the two or more HVAC messages, the application program is configured cause the touch screen to display a recommendation of the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature when the controller has determined that the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature has not been used, and, in response to a selection of the recommendation, the application program for the operating system is configured to cause the touch screen display to display additional information regarding how to use the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein each respective HVAC message of the two or more HVAC messages includes a message description and a time stamp.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein each respective HVAC message of the two or more HVAC messages includes an indicator that indicates if the respective HVAC message has been selected.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the two or more HVAC messages are configured to be deleted from the HVAC message center.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more HVAC messages includes an alert that alerts a user to a failure of a component of the HVAC system.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more HVAC messages includes a suggestion that suggests an alternative setting for the HVAC system.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more HVAC messages includes a maintenance reminder for the HVAC system.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more HVAC messages indicates a usage of the HVAC system.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a smartphone or tablet computer.

10. A mobile device for programming an HVAC controller of an HVAC system, the mobile device comprising:

a user interface configured to display information and to receive user-entered information;

a network connection configured to communicate with a remote server and in operative communication with the HVAC controller;

a memory for storing an application program;

a controller in operative communication with the user interface, the network connection, and the memory, the controller configured to execute an operating system of the mobile device and execute the application program, wherein the application program comprises application program code for execution by the operating system, wherein the controller is configured to periodically poll the HVAC controller to determine if a geofencing feature or auto changeover feature has not been used;

the application program, when executed by the controller, is configured to remotely program, in response to the user-entered information, one or more functions of the HVAC controller via the user interface and to output one or more programmed functions to the remote server via the network connection;

the application program is configured to cause the network connection to receive one or more HVAC messages related to alerts of the HVAC system via the network connection, and to cause the user interface to display the one or more HVAC messages in a HVAC message center that is implemented as part of the application program and accessible by a user, wherein the HVAC message center displays the one or more HVAC messages in a list format; and

wherein, to cause the user interface to display the two or more HVAC messages, the application program is configured to cause the user interface to display a recommendation of the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature when the controller has determined that the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature has not been used, and, in response to a selection of the recommendation, the application program for the operating system is configured to cause the user interface to display additional information regarding how to use the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the mobile device comprises a smartphone or a tablet.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein each respective HVAC message of the one or more HVAC messages includes a message description and a time stamp displayed in the HVAC message center.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more HVAC messages includes an alert that alerts the user to a failure of a component of the HVAC system, a suggestion that suggests an alternative setting for the HVAC system, a maintenance reminder for the HVAC system, or a usage message indicating the usage of the HVAC system.

14. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein, to cause the user interface to display the one or more HVAC messages, the application program is configured to cause the user interface to display the one or more HVAC messages arc displayed in the HVAC message center in a list with a most recent HVAC message of the one or more HVAC messages displayed at a top of the list.

15. A method for providing HVAC messages related to alerts of an HVAC system, the method comprising:

periodically polling an HVAC controller distinct from the wireless mobile device to determine if a geofencing feature or an auto changeover feature has not been used;

receiving one or more HVAC messages that are related to alerts of the HVAC system at a wireless mobile device, wherein each HVAC message comprises a message description and a time stamp;

displaying the one or more HVAC messages that are related to alerts of the HVAC system on a display of the wireless mobile device in an HVAC message center, wherein the wireless mobile device executes an operating system of the wireless mobile device and executes an application program comprising application program code for execution by the operating system, and the HVAC message center is implemented by the application program for the operating system and is accessible by a user via the application program, wherein the application program is configured to change one or more control parameters of the HVAC controller, and wherein displaying the one or more HVAC messages includes providing a recommendation of the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature when determining that the geofencing feature or the auto changeover feature has not been used;

receiving a user-selection of the recommendation HVAC message while the recommendation is displayed in the HVAC message center, and in response to the user-selection, displaying additional information regarding how to use the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature;

and

wherein at least one of the messages is an alert that alerts the user to a failure of a component of the HVAC system, a suggestion that suggests an alternative setting for the HVAC system, a maintenance reminder for the HVAC system, or a usage message indicating the usage of the HVAC system.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions for facilitating a user of a wireless mobile device in programming an HVAC controller of an HVAC system, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of the wireless mobile device causes the wireless mobile device to:

periodically poll the HVAC controller to determine if a geofencing feature or auto changeover feature has not been used;

provide one or more screens on a touch screen display of the wireless mobile device to display information for the user;

receive user-entered information from the user;

communicate with a remote server in operative communication with the HVAC controller;

receive one or more HVAC messages related to alerts of the HVAC system from the remote server; and

display, in response to receiving the one or more HVAC messages, the one or more HVAC messages related to alerts of the HVAC system in an HVAC message center that is displayed on the touch screen display of the wireless mobile device, wherein, the program instructions to display the one or more HVAC messages, causes the wireless mobile device to display the one or more HVAC messages related to alerts of the HVAC system in the HVAC message center in a list formation, and to display a recommendation of the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature when the one or more processors determine that the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature has not been used, wherein the recommendation is selectable, and in response to the user-entered information indicating the recommendation HVAC message is selected by the user, the program instructions cause the wireless mobile device to display on the touch screen display of the wireless mobile device additional information regarding how to use the geofencing feature or auto changeover feature.